Page 2 of Between Brothers

“Fries, onion rings, or chips?”

“If I didn’t want onions on the burger why the fuck would I want onion rings?”

I felt the casual smile slide right off my face and I tried not to shake as he turned that burning gaze of his back to my face. I swallowed hard and said, “Just an automatic question, I’m sorry…”

“Chips,” he said and I nodded, writing it down.

“I’ll be back as soon as that’s up.”

“Cool.”

I went to put their order in and risked a glance at their table, both of them openly staring at me, Blue murmuring something to the frighteningly intense one, Duracell.

“Hayley, you alright?”

I startled at Mel’s voice at my elbow and smoothed my sweating palms over my apron.

“Fine, I’m fine!”

She sighed, her shoulders dropping some and asked, “Duracell being a dick?”

I smiled back and shook my head, “No, it’s fine, really… just… is he always that..?” I trailed off and Mel smiled, raising her light blonde eyebrows, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Intense?”

“Yeah.”

She nodded, “He’s being a dick; I’ll go talk to him.”

“No! No, it’s fine, really.”

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.”

“Okay, but I’d look out for him. Not Blue though, Blue’s a total sweetheart.”

I turned around as the bell chimed above the door and Melody called out, “Welcome in! Be right with you.”

“I’ve got this one?” she asked and I nodded.

I served the two bikers when their food was up and silently refilled their drinks. Duracell talked at Blue, holding an entire conversation just like the silent man were answering back, and maybe he was but I certainly couldn’t tell. I brought them their check at the end of the meal and Duracell handed me a bank card.

“Be right back,” I murmured, taking a peek at the name on the card before I swiped it.

Paul Glenn

I took him back his card and handed him the two slips that went with it.

“Got a pen?”

“Sure, here you are, Mr. Glenn,” I handed him the pen but he bypassed it, catching my wrist.

“If you’re going to call me anything, it’s going to be Duracell or just Cell, don’t you ever say that name again.”

“I-I-I’m s-s-sorry,” I stuttered and just as fast as he’d caught me by the wrist, around the soft cushion of the white sweatband I wore to protect it from the edges of hot plates. That’s not why you wear them… my traitorous mind whispered. I went to turn and walk away, call my dad from the kitchen but Blue’s somber gaze stopped me.

Something silent but meaningful passed between us and my fear evaporated, gone as soon as it’d come. I found myself stumbling a bit as I walked away from their table, tripping over my own feet, transfixed by that somber silvery gaze.

When I turned back, Mel was leaning a hip against their table, her arms crossed, the three of them looking my direction. She said something, and Duracell said something back. I turned away, and a moment later the bell above the door chimed.

“Thanks, Hayley; be seein’ you,” Duracell called and Blue was heading out the door right behind him. He inclined his head and then the door was closing. Still, I watched through the glass, the retreating colorful patches on their backs as they went down the steps and headed for their bikes in the parking lot.

I blinked and went to bus their table quickly as two more men came through the door. When I stopped to pick things up, there, where Blue had been sitting, was a neatly folded, tiny, paper blossom out of one of their receipts. Delicate, beautiful, far too pretty to throw away. I put it into my apron pocket and quickly went back to work. It was the middle of the lunch rush, after all.

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